JP2001277571A - Serial printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To record data even when the recording head is mounted in a state inclined with respect to the head moving direction.
To provide a serial printer capable of performing clear recording in a boundary area between one line and the next line following the line. When a thermal head is mounted on a carriage in a normal state in a head moving direction, one line recorded by the thermal head is an odd-numbered recording element array. The driving of the recording element is started from and control is performed to form a dot pattern. When the thermal head HD is mounted in an inclined state, the next line is controlled so as to start driving the recording element array from an even-numbered line and form a dot pattern.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium in which a serial head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged is moved relative to a recording medium and the recording elements are selectively driven based on image information. More particularly, the present invention relates to a serial printer capable of performing clear printing even in a boundary area between one line printed by a print head on a printing medium and the next line following the printing line. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of the general serial printers is a serial thermal printer. In the printer, a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a row is moved from a recording start position to a recording end position in a main scanning direction of a recording medium while the recording elements are selectively driven to generate heat based on image information. After the recording for one line is performed, the recording medium is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount (the length in which the recording elements are arranged in rows), and the recording is started from the recording end position in the main scanning direction. Then, the thermal head is moved from the recording start position to the recording end position in the main scanning direction again to perform recording of the next line, and an image is formed on the recording medium. In such a printer, when a thermal head in which heating elements are arranged at a high density in a so-called high-density manner is mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus, since high-density image information can be used, an image composed of a group of high-density pixels is recorded. It is formed on a medium and can perform extremely beautiful recording.

[0003]

However, when the recording medium is conveyed by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction, if the conveyance control of the recording medium is improper, one line recorded by the recording head is not suitable. In the boundary area between the line and the next line following the line, a gap is generated between the lines, and white lines appear on an image of a character or the like recorded on the recording medium. Further, the conveyance amount of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction is slightly smaller than the predetermined amount (the length of the rows of the heating dots),
The boundary between each line may be recorded as a boundary area to be recorded a plurality of times. In such a case, if the recording control is inappropriate, black streaks may appear on characters or the like recorded on the recording medium.

In such a printer, the recording head is mounted not only when the recording element is mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus but also in a regular state in which the arrangement direction of the recording elements is orthogonal to the head moving direction. May be inclined with respect to the head moving direction, and in this case, a large number of white stripes or black stripes may appear in the boundary area. The present invention
It is made to solve the above problem, even if the recording head is mounted on the recording apparatus body in a state where the arrangement direction of the recording elements is inclined with respect to the head moving direction, It is an object of the present invention to provide a serial printer capable of performing clear printing in a boundary area between one line printed by a printing head and a next line following the one line.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a serial printer.
A recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a row, a head moving means for relatively moving the recording head in a head moving direction orthogonal to a direction in which the recording elements are arranged, and recording via the head moving means. While the head is relatively moved in the head moving direction, the recording elements are alternately selected from an odd-numbered recording element row composed of odd-numbered recording elements and an even-numbered recording element row composed of even-numbered recording elements. And a driving unit for driving each recording element to form a dot pattern row on the recording medium, and recording the dot pattern row over one line by the recording head, and then moving the recording medium by approximately one line. A recording medium feeding means for feeding relatively in a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction, and the recording head,
A dot pattern is formed by selecting whether to start recording from an odd-numbered recording element row or to start recording from an even-numbered recording element row based on whether or not the recording head is inclined relative to the head moving direction. Is provided with a correction control means for performing control.

Thus, in the serial printer, while the recording element is selectively driven by the driving means, the recording head is moved by the head moving means in a recording start position in a head moving direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the recording elements. To the recording end position, and prints one line. Thereafter, the recording medium feeding means sets the recording medium to approximately one.
The recording is repeated by moving the thermal head from the recording start position to the recording end position in the head moving direction again in the direction perpendicular to the head moving direction by the amount of the line and recording the next line again. An image is formed on a medium. Then, when the recording head is not inclined relative to the head moving direction, the correction control unit selects, for example, to start recording from an odd number of recording element rows, and selects a dot pattern. Is controlled to form. On the other hand, in the case of inclination, the correction control means selects to start recording from the even-numbered recording element row opposite to the case of not inclining, and controls so as to form a dot pattern. Thereby, even when the recording head is attached to the recording apparatus main body in an inclined state,
The position of the pixel formed in the boundary area on the recording medium is corrected, and the boundary dot pattern in the boundary area is formed at an appropriate position without displacement. Therefore, even when the recording head is properly mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus or when the recording head is mounted in a state inclined with respect to the head moving direction, it is necessary to perform clear recording in the boundary area. Can be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to the first aspect, the driving unit includes one line of the recording element, which is recorded by the recording head, and a continuous line. For a recording element that records other than the boundary area with the next line to be applied, a predetermined number of drive pulses are applied, whereas, among the recording elements, for a recording element that records the boundary area, It is desirable to apply a smaller number of drive pulses than the predetermined number of drive pulses. If the serial printer is, for example, a serial type thermal printer, the more the drive pulse applied, the higher the image density formed on the recording medium can be. A predetermined number of drive pulses are applied to a recording element that prints a region other than the boundary region between the recording element and the next line following the line, and a predetermined image density is obtained. By applying a smaller number of drive pulses than the predetermined number of drive pulses to a printing element for printing, it is possible to prevent the image density from becoming too high in the boundary region.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a row, and the recording head is relatively moved in a head moving direction orthogonal to a direction in which the recording elements are arranged in a row. A head moving means for moving, and, while the recording head is relatively moved in the head moving direction via the head moving means, an odd-numbered recording element row including an odd-numbered recording element and an even-numbered recording element among the recording elements. Driving means for alternately selecting even-numbered printing element rows comprising the second printing element and driving each printing element to form a dot pattern row on a print-receiving medium; Recording medium feeding means for relatively sending the recording medium by about one line in a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction after performing the recording; On the other hand, when the recording head is in a normal state, the control unit controls the recording start position of one line recorded by the recording head and the next line following the recording line to be the same to form a dot pattern, Further, when the recording head is in a state of being relatively inclined with respect to the head moving direction, a recording start position at which recording is performed by the recording element in the next line is set based on the inclination state. Correction control means is provided for performing control so as to form a dot pattern shifted in the head moving direction in accordance with the inclination.

In the serial printer, while the recording element is selectively driven by the driving means, the recording head is moved by the head moving means from the recording start position in the head moving direction orthogonal to the direction in which the recording elements are arranged. It moves to the position and performs recording for one line. afterwards,
The recording medium feeding means relatively feeds the recording medium by about one line in a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction, and moves the thermal head again from the recording start position in the head moving direction to the recording end position, and An image is formed on a recording medium by repeating the mode of recording a line. When the recording head is in a normal state in which the arrangement direction of the recording elements is orthogonal to the head moving direction, the recording start position of one line recorded by the recording head and the next line following the line Are controlled so that dot patterns are formed so as to be the same. On the other hand, when the recording head is in a state where the arrangement direction of the recording elements is relatively inclined with respect to the head moving direction, the correction control means performs recording by the recording element in the next line based on the inclined state. Is shifted along the head moving direction so that a dot pattern is formed in the boundary area. Thereby, even when the recording head is mounted on the recording apparatus main body in an inclined state, the positions of the pixels formed in the boundary area on the recording medium are corrected, and the boundary dot pattern in the boundary area is corrected. Are formed at appropriate positions without displacement. Therefore, when the recording head is in the normal state,
Alternatively, even in a case where the recording medium is inclined relative to the head moving direction, it is possible to perform clear recording in the boundary area.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to the third aspect, one end of the recording head is located upstream of the other end of the recording head in the head moving direction during a recording operation. When the recording head is inclined to the upstream side in the head moving direction so as to be located at the position, it is preferable that the recording start position is shifted to the downstream side in the head moving direction by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head. . When the recording head is inclined to the upstream side in the head moving direction, the recording start position is shifted to the downstream side in the head moving direction by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head. The dot pattern is formed at an appropriate position without displacement. Therefore, even when the recording head is mounted in such a manner as to be inclined with respect to the head moving direction, it is possible to perform clear recording in the boundary area.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the serial printer according to the third aspect, one end of the recording head is located downstream of the other end of the recording head in the head moving direction when the recording operation is performed. When the recording head is mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus in a state where the recording head is inclined so as to be positioned at the position, it is preferable that the recording start position is shifted to the upstream side in the head moving direction by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head. . When the recording head is tilted to the downstream side in the head moving direction, the recording start position is shifted to the upstream side in the head moving direction by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head. The dot pattern is formed at an appropriate position without displacement. Therefore, even when the recording head is mounted in such a manner as to be inclined with respect to the head moving direction, it is possible to perform clear recording in the boundary area.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A serial printer according to the present invention will be described below. For example, a tape printer with a keyboard for printing a large number of characters or marks such as hiragana, kanji and symbols on a recording medium such as a tape, an ink printer, and the like. This is performed by a printer or the like that prints on a recording medium such as recording paper via a ribbon. FIG. 1 is a front view showing main parts such as a carriage and a serial head provided in the serial printer of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the serial printer. FIG. 9 schematically shows a row of heating dots HD2 arranged on the recording surface HD1 side of the thermal head HD.

The thermal printer 1 of this embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 1, a carriage CA for moving a thermal head HD as a recording head relative to the recording medium P1 is provided. That carriage CA
Constitutes a part of the recording apparatus main body, and can attach a color ribbon cassette RC. The carriage CA is supported by two carriage transport guide shafts GD, and is moved by a carriage transport mechanism (not shown) including a drive motor 7a (see FIG. 2) in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon cassette RC (not shown). It is configured to be transported in the direction of arrow Y1). Therefore, the carriage transport mechanism including the guide shaft GD and the carriage CA constitutes a head moving unit that moves the thermal head HD in the head moving direction.

A flat platen PA for supporting a recording medium P1 such as a recording sheet is disposed below the carriage CA in FIG. 1. The flat platen PA intersects the arrow Y1 direction on the flat platen PA. A pair of right and left transport rollers R1 and R2 are provided so as to transport the recording medium P1 in the direction (arrow Z1 direction). These transport rollers R
The recording medium P1 and R2 are driven by a recording medium transport mechanism (not shown) including a drive motor 7b (see FIG. 2) and the like.
It is configured to rotate while sandwiching. Thus, the recording medium transport mechanism including the transport rollers R1, R2, and the like constitutes a recording medium feeding unit that feeds the recording medium in a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction.

On the lower side of FIG. 1 of the carriage CA,
A thermal head HD is mounted. On the recording surface HD1 side of the thermal head HD, heating dots HD2 (see FIG. 9) capable of generating heat in units of one dot are provided on the recording medium P1.
They are arranged in a line along the transport direction (arrow Z1 direction). The ribbon cassette RC includes a carriage CA
Since the ribbon head is detachably mounted on the carriage, the thermal head HD is fitted into the opening RC3 of the ribbon cassette RC with the ribbon cassette RC mounted on the carriage CA. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the ribbon cassette RC includes an ink ribbon IR having a plurality of color ink regions, such as cyan, magenta, and yellow ink regions, in that order. It is housed in a case, and is configured to sequentially supply unused portions of the ink ribbon IR to the thermal head HD. Specifically, both ends of the ink ribbon IR are wound and stored on a reel RC1 for supplying an unused ribbon and a reel RC2 for winding a used ribbon, respectively, and the reel RC2 is driven by a drive motor 7c ( The reel RC is rotated clockwise by receiving the driving force of the reel RC.
After passing through the ribbon end detection and color detection sensor SE, the ink ribbon IR pulled out from 1 passes through the guide member RB1, the opening RC3 of the ribbon cassette RC,
Further, via the guide member RB2, the reel RC2
Wound around. Accordingly, the ink ribbon IR is sequentially fed to the recording surface HD1 of the thermal head HD with the transport of the thermal head HD in the head moving direction.

The sensor SE for ribbon end detection and color detection includes a light emitting element SE1 that emits light toward the ink ribbon IR and a light receiving element SE2 that receives light transmitted through the ink ribbon IR. , The sensor SE is disposed so as to protrude toward the near side in FIG. In this case, when the ribbon cassette RC is mounted on the carriage CA, a pair of through holes RC of the ribbon cassette RC are provided.
5, the light-emitting element SE1 and the light-receiving element SE2 fit into each other, so that ribbon end detection and color detection can be performed. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of marking portions RC6 are provided on the upper right side of the ribbon cassette RC, and whether these marking portions RC6 are concave portions or not. Indicates the type of the ribbon cassette RC, for example. Then, the detection sensor SQ arranged to face the marker part RC6 is
The control device CP can identify the type of the ink ribbon IR in the ribbon cassette RC by detecting the presence or absence of the concave portion of the marker portion RC6.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal head HD facing the flat platen PA has a flat platen PA.
The carriage CA is separated (solid line) or abuts (two-dot chain line) from the recording medium P1 supported by
When the recording operation is performed on the recording medium P1, the recording medium P1 is in contact with the recording medium P1 via the ink ribbon IR. When the recording operation is not performed, the recording medium P1 is separated from the recording medium P1.
When the thermal head HD is mounted on the carriage CA, it is desirable to mount the thermal dots HD2 on the carriage CA such that the direction in which the heating dots HD2 are arranged is parallel to the direction orthogonal to the head moving direction. And the thermal head H
When the heating dots HD2 (heating elements) generate heat in units of one dot in a state where D is in contact with the recording medium P1, the ink of the ink ribbon IR is melted in units of one dot and adheres to the recording medium P1. . The carriage CA conveys the thermal head HD from the recording start position to the recording end position in the head movement direction (the direction of the arrow Y1), during which the heating dots HD2 (printing elements) are connected to the odd-numbered heating dots HD2 in the arrangement direction. The even-numbered heating dots HD2 alternately generate heat, and the arrangement direction of the heating dots HD2 (arrow Z)
In this case, dot pattern rows are sequentially formed on the recording medium P1 in a direction (direction of arrow Y1) intersecting with the recording medium P1.

After the recording of one line in the direction of arrow Y1 is completed, the recording medium P1 is moved in the conveying direction (arrow Z1).
In the direction), and transported by a predetermined amount (a transport amount S2 slightly shorter than the length S1 of the rows of the heating dots HD2) described later,
The thermal head HD is returned from the recording end position in the head moving direction to the recording start position, and the carriage CA is conveyed again from the recording start position to the recording end position in the head moving direction. The recording operation is performed in a pattern sequence. This mode is further repeated, and while the thermal head HD in which the plurality of heating dots HD2 are arranged is relatively moved with respect to the recording medium P1, the heating dots HD based on the image information are moved.
2 is selectively driven to generate heat, and as a result,
Images such as characters and symbols are formed.

Here, the operation of the thermal head HD and the transport amount of the recording medium P1 will be schematically described on the recording medium P1 in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 shows the recording medium P1.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the actual image recorded thereon, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the heating dots HD2 of the thermal head HD and the actual image recorded on the recording medium P1. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. First, the thermal head HD shown in FIG.
Is the recording start position K of the recording medium P1 in the head moving direction.
After moving from 1 to the recording end position K2, recording of the first line H1 for one line is executed. Thereafter, the recording medium P1 is transported in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount (a transport amount S2 slightly shorter than the length S1 in which the heating dots HD2 are arranged in rows), and the thermal head HD is moved from the recording end position K2 in the head moving direction. The operation of returning to the recording start position K1, moving the thermal head HD again from the recording start position K1 in the head moving direction to the recording end position K2, and recording the next line is repeated. Then, after one line of recording is performed on the recording medium P1 by the heating dots HD2 of the thermal head HD, the arrangement S of the heating dots HD2 is performed.
When the recording medium P1 is transported by an amount S2 less than 1 (see FIG. 8), the lower end (one end) of the heating dot HD2 in FIG. When recording is performed by the heating dots HD2 with the upper end (the other end) positioned, the recording medium P
The boundary area W1 between one line in 1 and the next line following the line becomes an overlap area recorded twice. On the other hand, the non-boundary area W2 other than the boundary area of the recording medium P1 is a non-overlap area recorded only once on the recording medium P1. As a result, a boundary region W1 is formed between one line recorded by the thermal head HD and the next line following the line (see FIG. 7), and this boundary region W1 is vertically sandwiched by the non-boundary region W2. It is.

Next, an electrical control mechanism of the thermal printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device CP of the thermal printer 1
A central control device (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) is a core, and a keyboard 3 as an input device and a character generator memory (CG-ROM) used for displaying and printing characters and the like.
ROM) 4 and a display (LC) as a display device
D) 5, a motor drive circuit 6 for driving a drive motor group 7 including the drive motor 7a for transporting the carriage, the drive motor 7b for transporting the recording medium, and the drive motor 7c for transporting the ink ribbon IR; A thermal head HD including a driving transistor (not shown) for individually driving the heating dots HD2, sensors 8 including the sensor SE and the like,
It is connected to a power supply 9 for driving the thermal printer 1 and the like. The control device CP includes the CPU, a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) and a readable / writable memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM).

On the keyboard 3, in addition to a plurality of keys 3a indicating characters for inputting hiragana, katakana, etc., for example, an editing key 3b such as an execution key or a cancel key is arranged. I have. And keyboard 3
Can transmit and receive signals such as data input through various keys to and from the control device CP. The CG-ROM is a character generator for generating image data when characters or the like are displayed or printed. The CG-ROM converts data representing the characters or the like into image data and sends it to the control device CP. The display 5 displays characters, marks, and the like input from the keyboard 3 over a plurality of lines on the screen as image data. The sensors 8 including the sensor SE detect the presence or absence of the cassette RC, the type of the recording medium P1, and the like in addition to the color detection and the end detection of the ink ribbon IR, and control the detection signal. Send it to the device CP.

The motor drive circuit 6 is a circuit for driving the drive motors 7a, 7b, 7c of the drive motor group 7, and is controlled by a control device CP. When the control device CP drives the drive motors 7a, 7b, 7c by a predetermined amount via the motor drive circuit 6, respectively, the carriage CA conveys the carriage CA in the arrow Y1 direction by a predetermined amount, or the conveyance rollers R1, R2 The recording medium P1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount in the arrow Z1 direction by rotating a predetermined amount, or the ink ribbon IR is conveyed by a predetermined amount by rotating the reel RC2 by a predetermined amount.

When the control device CP appropriately controls the drive amount of the drive motor 7b for transporting the recording medium via the motor drive circuit 6, when the control amount CP corresponds to the array S1 of the heating dots HD2.
(See FIG. 8) or the length S2 (see FIG. 8) smaller than the arrangement S1 can be transported. Therefore,
By controlling the transport amount of the recording medium P1 by the control device CP, a boundary region W1 and a non-boundary region W2 are formed, and the control device CP connects the boundary region W1 of the recording medium P1 to the boundary region W1. It can be divided into a non-boundary area W2 other than the boundary area W1 of the recording medium P1.

The RAM is provided with various data storage areas such as a display buffer and a print buffer. This storage area temporarily stores, for example, the image data and the like. The print buffer can store at least image information for one line of the recording medium P1. The ROM also includes a drive control program for the drive motor 7, a display program for displaying characters and the like input via each key of the keyboard 3 on the display 5, and various other types of information necessary for operating the thermal printer 1. In addition to programs and the like, a control program necessary for recording at a pseudo gradation by a dither method or the like is stored. Further, the ROM as storage means associates the first density data D1 for the boundary area W1 with the second density data D2 for the non-boundary area W2 with respect to the gradation information as shown in FIG. In addition to storing the table DD, a table DT for associating the density data D2 as shown in FIG. 4 with application time data T1 for applying energy to each of the heating dots HD2 is stored.
However, the storage means is not necessarily limited to the ROM, and may be, for example, an external storage device.

Next, the tables DD and DT will be described. The upper part of the table DD shown in FIG. 3 is the second density data D2 for the basic dot gradation (for the non-boundary area W2).
Are listed in order from “0” to “63”, and the lower part of the table DD is for divided dot gradation (boundary area W1
First density data D1 of the second density data D2
"0" to "32" corresponding to "0" to "63"
Are listed. In this case, the density data D1, D2
The smaller the number is, the lighter the image on the recording medium P1 is, but the numerical value shown in the lower first density data D1 (for example, the numerical value “7” shown in D3) is changed to the upper second density When the value is the same as the value indicated by the data D2 (for example, the value “7” indicated by D3), the image on the recording medium P1 has the same density. Further, the second density data D2 in the upper part of the table DT shown in FIG.
The application time data T1 is set based on the actual density of the image recorded on the recording medium P1. In this case, in the upper part of the table DT, the second density data D for the basic dot gradation (for the non-boundary area W2)
2 are listed in order from “0” to “63”,
In the lower part of the table DT, the second density data D2 in the upper part
"Time data t1" to "Time data t63" are listed in order corresponding to "0" to "63".

More specifically, the time Q during which the energy as shown in FIG.
In the case of 1, the dot (pixel) diameter d1 shown in FIG. 6B is recorded on the recording medium P1. In the case of the application time Q2, recording is performed on the recording medium P1 with a dot diameter d2. This indicates that the longer the application time, the larger the pixel (dot) diameter on the recording medium P1 and the higher the image density. The larger the number of the second density data D2 is, the deeper the image on the recording medium P1 is. Therefore, the "time data t1" corresponding to the density is larger.
Also, for “time data t63”, the pulse application time Q1 (see FIG. 6) is set to be longer as the number increases. Therefore, by confirming the application time Q1 of the energy applied to the heating dot HD2 and the size of the required pixel on the recording medium P1,
“Time data t63” can be set from “time data t1” for the second density data D2. Thereby, the application time data T1 for the density data D1 and D2 can be appropriately corrected according to the actual density of the image recorded on the recording medium P1.

Accordingly, the control device CP reads the density data D1 and D2 from the ROM based on the image information, and reads the application time data T1 for the density data D1 and D2 and outputs the data to the thermal head HD. The heating dot HD2 is driven to generate heat according to the data T1, and the size of the dot (pixel) recorded on the recording medium P1 is controlled. When the density data D1 and D2 read by the control device CP are dark, the size of the dot (pixel) recorded on the recording medium P1 increases, whereas the size of the dot (pixel) read by the control device CP increases. When the density data D1 and D2 are thin, the size of the dot (pixel) recorded on the recording medium P1 is reduced, and recording according to the density data D1 and D2 can be performed.

The reason why the first density data D1 is smaller than the second density data is that the thermal head HD is relatively moved with respect to the recording medium P1 and the non-boundary area of the recording medium P1 is moved. While W2 is recorded once,
This is because the boundary area W1 of the recording medium P1 is different in that recording is performed a plurality of times in an overlapping manner. If the same dark density data as in the case of recording without overlapping is used in the case of recording with overlapping, if the image of the character or the like recorded on the recording medium P1 becomes dark, black stripes or the like appear. Improper recording may be performed, but since the first density data D1 is set smaller than the second density data D2, such improper recording is not performed. Then, a clear record is made.

This state will be described with reference to the pixels of the boundary area W1 and the non-boundary area W2 shown in FIG. 7. Pixel D4 (shown by oblique lines) of the previously recorded boundary area W1 and boundary area W1 recorded later are displayed. The pixel D5 of W1 (shown by a black circle) has both small diameters. On the other hand, the pixel D6 (shown by oblique lines) of the previously recorded non-boundary area W2 and the pixel D7 (shown by black circles) of the non-boundary area W2 recorded later have both large diameters. This is because the pixels in the boundary area W1 of the recording medium P1 are small, but when recording is performed a plurality of times,
This indicates that a pixel that was small to the same extent as a pixel in the non-boundary region W2 becomes large as a whole. Therefore, when the pixels D4 and D5 are greatly enlarged as shown in FIG. 7, the overlapped pixels D4 and D5 are slightly different from the pixels D6 and D7. . As a result, of the heating dots HD2 that record other than the boundary area W1 among the heating dots HD2,
While a predetermined number of drive pulses are applied, the heating dots H
In D2, a smaller number of drive pulses than the predetermined number of drive pulses are applied to the heating dots HD2 that record the boundary area W1.

However, the density data D1 for the boundary area
Is set to be larger than half the density data D2 for the non-boundary area W2 for the same gradation information, as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a graph showing a correspondence relationship between the first density data, the second density data, and a half of the second density data. "0" of the density data D2 of No. 2
To half the size of “63” (straight line L1 in FIG. 5)
When the graph is compared with the first density data D1 in the lower row from the size “0” to “32” (graph L2 in FIG. 5), it can be seen that the graph L2 in FIG. 5 is larger than the straight line L1. This is set so that the thermal head HD records the boundary area W1 of the recording medium P1 twice, and the density data D1 for the same gradation information is 分 の of the density data D2.
If the value of the density data D1 is small when the value is smaller than the above, the image on the recording medium P1 tends to be thin,
Clear images cannot be recorded. On the other hand, the density data D
This is because, when 1 is larger than half the density data D2, the pixels are large, and a deep and clear image can be recorded.

Next, the heating dots H of the thermal head HD
The relationship between the arrangement direction of D2 and the recording medium P1 on which images such as characters and symbols are formed by the heat generated by the heat generation dots HD2 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9A, the thermal head HD has the heating dots H
D2 is mounted on the carriage CA such that the direction in which the rows of D2 are arranged is parallel to the direction orthogonal to the head movement direction. In this case, the thermal head HD is properly mounted on the carriage CA. On the other hand, due to the tolerance at the time of assembling, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the direction in which the thermal dots HD2 are arranged is inclined with respect to the head moving direction. In this state, it may be assembled to the carriage CA. FIG. 9B
The direction in which the heating dots HD2 are arranged is such that the upper end (one end) of the thermal head HD is located downstream of the lower end (other end) of the thermal head HD in the head moving direction during the printing operation. Is inclined to the upstream side in the head moving direction. FIG. 9C shows the thermal head H
The direction in which the heating dots HD2 are arranged in the head moving direction is such that the upper end (one end) of D is located upstream of the lower end (other end) of the thermal head HD in the head moving direction during the printing operation. This is a case in which it is inclined to the downstream side.
9 (b) and 9 (c) are exaggeratedly expressed, and are actually only slightly inclined.

When the direction in which the heating dots HD2 are arranged is inclined as described above, a positional shift occurs at the upper end and the lower end of the heating dots HD2 with respect to the head moving direction of the heating dots HD2. If recording control similar to the case where the thermal head HD is properly mounted on the carriage CA is performed in this state, a large number of white or black stripes are likely to appear on the boundary area W1 of the recording medium P1. . As a result, the thermal head HD
As shown in (b), when the head is tilted to the upstream side in the head moving direction, it is desirable to perform recording control so as to correct the position of the heating dot HD2 on the upper end side to the downstream side in the head moving direction. Conversely, the thermal head HD
As shown in (c), when the head is tilted downstream in the head movement direction, it is desirable to perform recording control so as to correct the position of the heat generating dot HD2 on the upper end side to the upstream side in the head movement direction.

For this reason, in the case of this embodiment, the dots of the odd-numbered recording element rows in the heating dots HD2 are located on the upstream side in the head moving direction with respect to the dots of the even-numbered recording element rows. In the case of being inclined to the upstream side shown in b), the control device CP causes the previous line to generate heat from the odd-numbered recording element so as to correct the position of the heating dot HD2 at the upper end to the downstream side in the head moving direction. As in the previous line, print control is performed so that heat generation does not start from the odd-numbered printing elements but starts from the even-numbered printing elements. On the other hand, when the control device CP is inclined to the downstream side shown in FIG. 9C, the control device CP corrects the position of the heating dot HD2 on the upper end side to the upstream side in the head moving direction so as to correct the position of the even recording element array HD4. The recording control is not performed so that the heating dots HD2 on the upper end side are heated but the heating dots HD2 on the upper end side of the odd-numbered recording element row HD3 are heated. FIG. 9 (b)
In both cases of FIG. 9C and FIG. 9C, when the previous line starts heating from the even-numbered printing element, the next line starts heating from the odd-numbered printing element. Regarding the state of mounting the thermal head HD on the thermal head HD, it is often difficult to determine whether the thermal head HD is in one of the states shown in FIGS. Therefore, in the mounted state, as a result of performing the printing control when the thermal head HD is properly mounted on the carriage CA, the white stripe or the black stripe appearing on the boundary area W1 of the recording medium P1 can be visually checked. , It is determined whether the state is as shown in any of FIGS.
The operator inputs the information related thereto into the control device CP via the keyboard 3 in advance and stores the information in the ROM. As a result, the control device CP executes the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 based on the data stored in the ROM.

Next, the operation of the control device CP will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that steps in the flowchart are abbreviated as S. Control device CP
As shown in FIG. 10, after reading out the image information for one line (S1), the thermal head HD is arranged such that the direction in which the heating dots HD2 are arranged is parallel to the direction orthogonal to the head moving direction. Next, it is determined whether or not the carriage CA is assembled (that is, the thermal head HD is properly mounted) (S5).

Here, when the thermal head HD is properly mounted (S5: YES), heat generation is started from the odd-numbered printing elements, and thereafter, the even-numbered printing elements and the odd-numbered printing elements are alternated in this order. Control device C to generate heat
P reads the first density data D1 stored in association with the second density data, and reads the application time data T1 corresponding to the first density data D1 (S
6) Output to the thermal head HD to drive the heating dots HD2 corresponding to the first and second heating dots to generate heat (S7). Thereafter, the control device CP determines whether or not the recording operation of the image information for one line has been completed (S8).
If NO is determined in S8, that is, if the recording operation is not completed, the process returns to S2. In the case of YES in S8, the control device CP conveys the recording medium P1 by a predetermined amount (S9). Then, the control device CP determines whether or not the recording operation of all image information has been completed (S10). If NO is determined in S10, since the recording operation is not completed, the process returns to S1 and returns to S1.
If YES at 0, the recording operation ends.

Here, when the thermal head HD is not properly mounted (S5: NO), the control device CP moves the thermal head HD to the upstream side in the head moving direction as shown in FIG. 9B. (Ie, FIG. 9)
It is determined whether or not it is tilted to the left in (b) (S11).

In S11, in the case of YES, the control device CP starts the heat generation from the even-numbered printing elements, and thereafter generates the second density so that the odd-numbered printing elements and the even-numbered printing elements generate heat alternately in this order. The first density data D1 stored in association with the data is read, and the application time data T1 corresponding to the first density data D1 is read (S12) and output to the thermal head HD.
Then, the heating dot HD2 corresponding to the second heating dot is corrected and the heating is driven (S13).

This state will be described with reference to FIG. 11 for the pixels recorded on the recording medium P1. A white circle pixel of a large diameter circle for one line is recorded in the non-boundary area W2 and a small diameter pixel is recorded. After the white circle pixels of the circle are recorded in the boundary area W1, in the next line, the pixels with large-diameter circles are recorded in the non-boundary area W2 and the pixels with small-diameter circles are plotted in the boundary area W1. Recorded in. And FIG.
In the case of the recording medium P1 shown in FIG. 1 (a), the white circle pixel of the small diameter circle and the hatched pixel of the small diameter circle in the boundary area W1 are
Since they are alternately arranged in the head moving direction, the boundary region W1
A beautiful record is made at.

In this case, at the upper end (one end) of the recording head HD, the first recording element is driven to form a boundary dot pattern in the boundary area W1, while the recording head HD
At the lower end portion (the other end portion), the lowermost recording element positioned at the even-numbered position is driven, and as shown in FIG. Pixels can be arranged in order and alternately in the head movement direction.

However, FIG. 11B and FIG.
In the case of the boundary area W1 shown in (d), the white circle pixels of the small-diameter circle and the hatched pixels of the small-diameter circle overlap each other, and clear recording cannot be performed in the boundary area W1.

This is because the recording medium P shown in FIG.
1 corresponds to the thermal head HD shown in FIG.
The heating dots H are arranged such that the upper end (one end) of the thermal head HD is located upstream of the lower end (other end) of the thermal head HD in the head moving direction during the printing operation.
This is because the position of the boundary dot pattern is shifted due to the direction in which the rows of D2 are arranged being inclined upstream in the head moving direction. However, the control device CP does not start heating from the heating dots HD2 in the odd-numbered printing element rows, but performs printing control to start heating from the heating dots HD2 in the even-numbered printing element rows. As shown in c), the position of the heating dot HD2 can be corrected to the downstream side in the head moving direction.

On the other hand, the recording medium P1 shown in FIG.
Corresponds to the thermal head HD shown in FIG. 9C, and the upper end (one end) of the thermal head HD is located downstream of the lower end (other end) of the thermal head HD in the head moving direction during the printing operation. Heating dot HD
2 is inclined toward the downstream side in the head moving direction, thereby causing a displacement of the boundary dot pattern. However, the control device CP does not start heating from the heating dots HD2 in the even-numbered printing element rows, but performs printing control to start heating from the heating dots HD2 in the odd-numbered printing element rows. As shown in e), the position of the heating dot HD2 can be corrected to the upstream side in the head moving direction.

Thus, even when the thermal head HD is mounted on the carriage CA in an inclined state, the position of the pixel formed in the boundary area W1 on the recording medium P1 is corrected, and the boundary is formed. Since the boundary dot pattern in the region W1 is formed at an appropriate position without displacement, clear recording can be performed in the boundary region W1.

As described above, according to the thermal printer 1 of this embodiment, the thermal head HD in which the plurality of heating dots HD2 are arranged and the thermal head HD
While moving the heating dots HD2 in the head movement direction via the carriage CA and the like, and a carriage conveyance mechanism including a carriage CA and the like for relatively moving the head in the head movement direction orthogonal to the row direction of D2. Heating dot HD
2, an odd-numbered printing element array including odd-numbered printing elements and an even-numbered printing element array including even-numbered printing elements are alternately selected, and each heating dot HD2 is driven to change the dot pattern array to the printing medium P1. After recording a dot pattern array over one line by the driving transistor formed on the recording medium P and the heating dots HD2, the transport rollers R1, which relatively feed the recording medium P1 by one line in a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction, A recording medium transport mechanism including R2 and the like, and one line recorded by the heating dot HD2 when the heating dot HD2 is mounted on the carriage CA (printing apparatus main body) in a normal state with respect to the head moving direction. The first recording element included in the heating dot HD2 is driven in a boundary area between the next line and the next line to form a boundary dot pattern. A control unit CP controls to,
When the thermal head HD is mounted on the carriage CA in a state where the thermal head HD is inclined with respect to the head moving direction, the heating drive is started from the odd-numbered recording element rows based on the inclined state, or from the even-numbered recording element rows. And a control device CP for selecting whether to start heating driving and controlling to form a boundary dot pattern.

Thus, in the thermal printer 1 which moves the recording medium P1 relative to the recording medium P1 and selectively drives the heat generation dots HD2 based on image information to generate heat, thereby performing recording on the recording medium P1. The HD is moved from the recording start position to the recording end position in the head moving direction to perform recording for one line, and the recording medium P1 is relatively moved by one line in a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction, and the thermal medium is again transferred. When an image is formed on the recording medium P1 by repeating a mode in which the head HD is moved from the recording start position to the recording end position in the head moving direction to perform recording on the next line, one line and one continuous line are formed. A boundary area W1 with the next line and a non-boundary area W2 other than the boundary area W1 of the recording medium P1 are determined. Then, the state of mounting the thermal head HD on the carriage CA is determined in advance, and the control device CP corrects the printing control as necessary, and starts from the even-numbered printing element row of the heating dots HD2 of the thermal head HD. Since the driving is performed while switching whether to start the heating drive or to start the heating drive from the odd-numbered printing element row, the boundary dot pattern is formed at an appropriate position in the boundary region W1 without displacement. Fine recording can be performed in the boundary area W1.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 12 is a flowchart for another embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 11 showing a recording medium P1 for another embodiment. In the case of this embodiment, instead of adopting a mode of starting recording from which of the odd-numbered printing element rows and the even-numbered printing element rows as in the above-described embodiment, , Thermal head HD
Is attached to the carriage CA (printing apparatus main body) in a state inclined with respect to the head moving direction, the recording start position at which recording is performed by the heating dots HD2 in the next line corresponds to the inclination of the thermal head HD. Then, a mode is adopted in which the boundary dot pattern is controlled so as to be shifted along the head moving direction.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9B, the upper end (one end) of the thermal head HD is moved from the lower end (the other end) of the thermal head HD in the head moving direction during the printing operation. The heating dot HD is located on the downstream side of
2 is inclined to the upstream side in the head moving direction, the heating dot HD2 moves in the head moving direction.
Since a position shift occurs at the upper end side and the lower end side of the heating dot HD2, it is necessary to perform recording control such that the recording start position of the heating dot HD2 at the upper end side is corrected to the downstream side in the head moving direction. As shown in FIG. 9C, the upper end (one end) of the thermal head HD is located upstream of the lower end (the other end) of the thermal head HD in the head moving direction during the printing operation. As described above, when the row direction of the heating dots HD2 is inclined to the downstream side in the head moving direction, positional deviation occurs at the upper end side and the lower end side of the heating dots HD2 with respect to the head moving direction of the heating dots HD2. Therefore, it is necessary to perform recording control such that the recording start position of the heating dot HD2 on the upper end side is corrected to the upstream side in the head moving direction.

This state will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 for pixels recorded on the recording medium P1. A white circle pixel of a large diameter circle for one line corresponds to the non-boundary area W2.
And the white circle pixel of the small diameter circle is the boundary area W
After the recording in step 1, in the next line, the large-diameter shaded pixels are recorded in the non-boundary area W2, and the small-diameter shaded pixels are recorded in the boundary area W1. In the case of the recording medium P1 shown in FIG. 13A, since the heating dots HD2 are mounted on the carriage CA in a normal state with respect to the head moving direction, the white dots of the small-diameter circle in the boundary area W1 Since the small-diameter circled hatched pixels are alternately arranged in the head moving direction, clear recording is performed in the boundary area W1 (S25: YES, S26,
S27). In this case, at the upper end (one end) of the recording head HD, the first recording element in the odd-numbered recording element row is driven to form the boundary dot pattern in the boundary area W1, while the lower end of the recording head HD (others). At the end), by driving the lowermost recording element included in the even-numbered recording elements, as shown in FIG. 13A, a white circle pixel of a small diameter circle and a hatched pixel of the small diameter circle are formed. Can be sequentially and alternately arranged in the head moving direction.

However, FIG. 13B and FIG.
In the case of the boundary area W1 shown in (d), since the heating dot HD2 is mounted on the carriage CA in a state inclined with respect to the head moving direction, the white circle pixel of the small diameter circle and the hatched pixel of the small diameter circle Overlap, and it is not possible to perform clear recording in the boundary area W1. Here, FIG.
The recording medium P1 shown in (b) corresponds to the thermal head HD shown in FIG. 9 (b), and the upper end (one end) of the thermal head HD is turned on when the recording operation is performed.
When the row direction of the heating dots HD2 is inclined to the upstream side in the head moving direction so as to be located on the upstream side in the head moving direction from the lower end (the other end) of the device (S31: YES), the control device CP The recording start position is controlled so as to be shifted to the downstream side in the head moving direction by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head as shown in FIG. 13C (S32, S33).

On the other hand, the recording medium P1 shown in FIG.
Corresponds to the thermal head HD shown in FIG. 9C, and the upper end (one end) of the thermal head HD is located downstream of the lower end (other end) of the thermal head HD in the head moving direction during the printing operation. Side of the control device CP
Controls the recording start position to be shifted to the upstream side in the head moving direction by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head as shown in FIG. 13E (S34: YES, S35, S3).
6). Accordingly, even when the thermal head HD is mounted on the carriage CA in an inclined state, the positions of the pixels formed in the boundary area W1 on the recording medium P1 are corrected, and the positions of the pixels in the boundary area W1 are corrected. Since the boundary dot pattern is formed at an appropriate position without displacement, clear recording can be performed in the boundary region W1. Therefore, the control device CP controls the first recording element of the odd-numbered recording element row at the upper end of the thermal head HD to form a boundary dot pattern, but controls the thermal head HD in the head moving direction. When the recording element is mounted on the carriage CA in a tilted state, as a correction control, the recording start position at which recording is performed by the recording element in the next line based on the inclination state of the heating dots HD2 in the row direction is set. According to the inclination of the head, it can be controlled to shift along the head moving direction to form a boundary dot pattern.

The thermal head H to the carriage CA
Regarding the mounting state of D, it is often difficult to visually determine whether the thermal head HD is in the state shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C. As a result of performing the printing control when the thermal head HD is properly mounted on the carriage CA, the white stripes or the black stripes that easily appear on the boundary area W1 of the recording medium P1 are visually observed.
It is determined whether any of the states shown in (a) to (c) has been reached, and information about the state is sent to the keyboard 3 by the operator.
Is input in advance to the control device CP via the CPU and stored in the ROM. As a result, the control device CP executes the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 based on the data stored in the ROM.

The present embodiment is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, naturally, the present invention can be variously modified and modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, a serial printer
A printer other than a serial type thermal printer may be used. Further, the serial printer of the present invention does not need to be a tape printer, for example, and may be a thermal printer such as a line thermal printer. The method for expressing the gradation of the image on the recording medium P1 does not necessarily need to employ the dither method, but may employ another pseudo halftone expression method or the like.

[0054]

As described above in detail, according to the serial printer of the first aspect, the odd-numbered recording element is determined based on whether the recording head is relatively inclined with respect to the head moving direction. It is controlled to form a dot pattern by selecting whether to start printing from a row or to start printing from an even number of printing element rows, so that one line printed by the print head and the next line following this are printed. The dot pattern is formed at an appropriate position without displacement in a boundary region between the dot pattern and the dot pattern. Thereby, the recording head is
Even in the normal state or the state inclined relative to the head moving direction, the boundary area between one line recorded by the recording head and the next line following the line , A clean recording can be performed. Further, even when the recording head is mounted in a state of being inclined with respect to the head moving direction, it is possible to perform clear recording, and therefore, for example, the assembling accuracy when mounting the recording head to the recording apparatus main body is reduced. The cost may be reduced and manufacturing costs may be reduced.

According to the serial printer of the present invention, the density data for the boundary area is set to be larger than half the density data for the non-boundary area for the same gradation information. For example, if the serial head is set to record the boundary area of the recording medium twice, the density data for the boundary area for the same gradation information is the density data for the non-boundary area. It is larger than half of the data.
Therefore, when the density data for the boundary area is light, an image that tends to be light on the recording medium can be particularly darkened, and the clear and dark recording is performed as in the case where the density data for the non-boundary area has a low density. be able to.

According to the serial printer of the present invention, when the recording head is in a normal state in which the arrangement direction of the recording elements is orthogonal to the head moving direction, recording is performed by the recording head. In a case where the recording start position of one line and the next line following the line are controlled to be the same to form a dot pattern, while the recording head is inclined relatively to the head moving direction The correction control means drives the recording element by shifting the recording start position where the recording is performed by the recording element in the next line along the head moving direction, based on the inclination state of the recording element in the arrangement direction, and drives the recording element. Since the control is performed so as to form a pattern, the boundary dot pattern is appropriately adjusted in the boundary region between one line and the next line following the line without displacement. It is formed by position. Thereby, even when the recording head is in a normal state or in a state of being inclined relative to the head moving direction, one line recorded by the recording head and a line continuous with the line are recorded. Clear recording can be performed in the boundary area with the next line. Further, even when the recording head is mounted in a state inclined with respect to the head moving direction,
Since clear recording can be performed, for example, the assembling accuracy when the recording head is mounted on the recording apparatus main body may be somewhat reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to the serial printer of the invention, the one end of the recording head is positioned upstream of the other end of the recording head in the head moving direction when the recording operation is performed. When the head is tilted upstream in the head moving direction, the recording start position is shifted downstream in the head moving direction by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head. Even when the camera is mounted in a state of being inclined with respect to the moving direction, it is possible to perform clear recording in the boundary area.

According to the serial printer of the invention, the one end of the recording head is located downstream of the other end of the recording head in the head moving direction during the execution of the recording operation. Is inclined downstream in the head moving direction, the recording start position is shifted upstream in the head moving direction by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head, so that the boundary dot pattern is misaligned in the boundary area. It is formed at an appropriate position without performing. Thus, even when the recording head is mounted in such a manner as to be inclined with respect to the head moving direction, it is possible to perform clear recording in the boundary area.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing main parts such as a carriage and a thermal head provided in an embodiment embodying a serial printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between first density data for a boundary area and second density data for a non-boundary area with respect to gradation information according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between second density data and application time data for applying energy to a heating dot according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a correspondence between the first density data, the second density data, and a half of the second density data according to the embodiment;

6A and 6B show a relationship between application time data for applying energy to the heat generating dots of this embodiment and actual densities recorded on a recording medium, and FIG. 6A is a waveform diagram of an applied pulse. (B) is a diagram showing the actual recorded dot diameter.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of an actual image recorded on a recording medium according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between heat-generating dots of the thermal head of this embodiment and actual images recorded on a recording medium.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between the thermal head of this embodiment and a recording medium.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing a positional relationship between actual pixels recorded on a recording medium of this embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation of another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing a positional relationship between actual pixels recorded on a recording medium according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 thermal printer HD thermal head HD2 heating dot CA carriage IR ink ribbon SE sensor W1 border area W2 non-boundary area D1 first density data D2 second density data T1 application time data P1 recording medium CP control device Q1 application time Q2 Application time 7 Drive motor group R1 Transport roller R2 Transport roller K1 Recording start position K2 Recording end position

Claims (5)

[Claims] A recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a row; a head moving means for relatively moving the recording head in a head moving direction orthogonal to a direction in which the recording elements are arranged; While relatively moving the recording head in the head moving direction via the means, among the recording elements,
Drive means for alternately selecting an odd-numbered recording element array composed of odd-numbered recording elements and an even-numbered recording element array composed of even-numbered recording elements, and driving each recording element to form a dot pattern array on a recording medium; A recording medium feeding unit that, after performing recording of a dot pattern row over one line by the recording head, relatively moves the recording medium by approximately one line in a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction; The dot pattern is formed by selecting whether to start recording from an odd-numbered recording element row or to start recording from an even-numbered recording element row based on whether or not the recording head is inclined relative to the head moving direction. And a correction control means for controlling the serial printer. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit is provided with a predetermined number of printing elements for printing on a printing element other than a boundary area between one line printed by the printing head and a next line following the printing head. Wherein the drive pulse is applied to a print element that prints the boundary area among the print elements, wherein a smaller number of drive pulses than the predetermined number of drive pulses are applied. The serial printer according to claim 1. 3. A print head in which a plurality of print elements are arranged in a row, a head moving means for relatively moving the print head in a head move direction orthogonal to a direction in which the print elements are arranged, and the head move While relatively moving the recording head in the head moving direction via the means, among the recording elements,
Drive means for alternately selecting an odd-numbered recording element array composed of odd-numbered recording elements and an even-numbered recording element array composed of even-numbered recording elements, and driving each recording element to form a dot pattern array on a recording medium; Recording medium feeding means for relatively sending the recording medium by about one line in a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction after recording the dot pattern array over one line by the recording head, When the recording head is in a normal state with respect to the head moving direction, a dot pattern is formed by setting the recording start position of one line recorded by the recording head and the next line following the same line to be the same. Control means for controlling the recording head so that the recording head is tilted relatively to the head moving direction. Serial printer, characterized in that the recording start position for recording by the recording device by the line, providing a correction control means for controlling to form a dot pattern shifted along the head movement direction. 4. The recording head is attached to the recording apparatus main body in a state where the recording head is inclined such that one end of the recording head is located upstream of the other end of the recording head in the head moving direction during a recording operation. The recording start position is
4. The serial printer according to claim 3, wherein the printer is shifted downstream by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head in the head moving direction. 5. The recording head is attached to the recording apparatus main body in an inclined state such that one end of the recording head is located downstream of the other end of the recording head in the head moving direction during a recording operation. The recording start position is
4. The serial printer according to claim 3, wherein the printer is shifted upstream by a width corresponding to the inclination of the recording head in the head moving direction.